Reading 20

John 9-12

At the beginning of Chapter 9, Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who has been blind since birth. The disciples ask Jesus, “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” And Jesus answers, “Neither… this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

That the work of God might be displayed in his life. Can you remember a period in your life when you were in the midst of a hard time and the question kept creeping up in your mind, “What did I do to deserve this?” I’ve had those times… and I usually didn’t stop to think that it was happening so that the work of God might be displayed in my life.

Honestly, during tough times, I’m usually too focused on me to see anything else. But if we can begin to see the trials in our lives as occasions for the work of God to be displayed in our lives, what hope that can bring. What confidence that can give. We are a showcase of God’s art. His creation. And he’s chosen to use each one of us to display his work. Our lives are a living gallery of his work.

We are each a testament to the character of God. His constancy: he will never leave us – he’s promised that to us. His love: he cares about each of us individually and knows our burdens. His providence: he supplies for our needs daily, whether money for bills, clothes on our back, or food on the table – it all comes from him.

And yet with all God’s goodness and faithfulness we see in our lives, there are the hard things, the tough times, when it feels like your world is falling apart or the situation you’re in just isn’t changing. So how do these two things co-exist? You know God is good. His character is unchanging and at the same time, life is hard.

I can’t help but be reminded of Romans 8:18 and 8:28 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us…. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God works. He is working. Things happen in our lives so that his work might be displayed. The trials we go through are not worthless… they’re opportunities for God to work.

So the next time I find myself asking, “What have I done to deserve this?” I’m going to ask “What is God displaying in my life?” because I want to be a living gallery for his art work to those around me.

Cristin

Reading #20 (audio)